Losing quality when encoding files in Expression Encoder 4 if they’ve been recorded and edited in other programs

Question

The quality of screen capture files that were recorded and edited in other programs is being significantly degraded when I encode the files.  Since the quality seems to be consistent with files created in Expression Encoder Screen Capture, I'm wondering if there is a way around this or if I need to start this project from scratch?

When I preview the encoded version using A/B compare the quality is significantly compromised even if I haven't edited the file. I believe that my encoding settings are at the highest level, but I'm somewhat of a noob to video editing so I might have missed something ;-)

I'm using Expression Encoder 4 SP1, and the encoding quality is set to 'Best Quality'. I have imported the video in both .wmv and .mp4 formats, and the initial settings for this particular video are *Bitrate 1045, Size 512 x 288,*and the source frame rate is 29.97p. The one possibility which I haven't been able to try is the tutorial's recommendation to set the Video Profile to "Screen Encoding", because I haven't been able to find that setting in my version of Expression Encoder.  

The screen capture files were created with this Microsoft Screenrecorder utility and edited with Movie Maker 2012.

Answer 1

The quality of screen capture files that were recorded and edited in other programs is being significantly degraded when I encode the files.  Since the quality seems to be consistent with files created in Expression Encoder Screen Capture, I'm wondering if there is a way around this or if I need to start this project from scratch?

When I preview the encoded version using A/B compare the quality is significantly compromised even if I haven't edited the file. I believe that my encoding settings are at the highest level, but I'm somewhat of a noob to video editing so I might have missed something ;-)

I'm using Expression Encoder 4 SP1, and the encoding quality is set to 'Best Quality'. I have imported the video in both .wmv and .mp4 formats, and the initial settings for this particular video are *Bitrate 1045, Size 512 x 288,*and the source frame rate is 29.97p. The one possibility which I haven't been able to try is the tutorial's recommendation to set the Video Profile to "Screen Encoding", because I haven't been able to find that setting in my version of Expression Encoder.  

The screen capture files were created with this Microsoft Screenrecorder utility and edited with Movie Maker 2012.

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512 x 288 is very low resolution...especially if you

are viewing full screen you would probably see

pixelation..

Might be worth a try to increase the Size 512 x 288

to 1024 or more. The aspect ratio will be maintained

automatically if the Lock Icon is in the Locked position.

Just click in the size field and start typing to change

the number.

Answer 2

Increasing the size did help a bit, but there's still a significant degradation of the quality between the original and encoded versions when previewed with A/B Compare. Any other suggestions?

Answer 3

I think I got around that issue by using the original files (instead of ones that had been previously edited and resaved), and when I increase the size now (to 1904 x 1040) the quality looks unchanged :-) 

The only question is how do I do that without making the video become larger than the screen (it's at least 2x larger than the screen ;-))?

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Larger than what screen? How are you viewing the video?

Answer 4

I think I got around that issue by using the original files (instead of ones that had been previously edited and resaved), and when I increase the size now (to 1904 x 1040) the quality looks unchanged :-) 

The only question is how do I do that without making the video become larger than the screen (it's at least 2x larger than the screen ;-))?

Answer 5

Increasing the size did help a bit, but there's still a significant degradation of the quality between the original and encoded versions when previewed with A/B Compare. Any other suggestions?

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Sorry, can't think of anything else.